Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani visited temple, as first stage of Gujarat polls set about today and fired out many questions of challenge saying that BJP will stand victorious in their home Gujarat. "People should come out in large numbers to vote. Our party BJP are very confident, no question of any challenge," Vijay Rupani told the media here.

The battle for Rajkot-West seat, the traditional BJP fortress, could be a cliffhanger for its high-profile contestant and Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani who is facing a challenger in Congress’ Indranil Rajyaguru. Earlier known as Rajkot-II, the seat is considered as ‘safe’ for the saffron party which has been representing it since 1985. The constituency goes to polls on 9 December in the first phase of the high-stakes Gujarat elections

The first state of polling will be held in 89 assembly body of Saurashtra and South Gujarat regions with 977 candidates in the affray. About 2.12 crore voters, which include 1, 11,05,933 men and 1,01,25,472 women, are expected to exercise their franchise. Abdasa assembly seat in Kachchh district is the largest constituency, which is spread over 6,278 sq km while Karanj assembly seat in Surat district is smallest constituency, which is spread over only 4 sq km.

The second phase will be held on December 14 for 93 assembly constituencies while counting of the votes will be done on December 18. The crucial elections are being seen as prestige battle for BJP, which has been ruling the state for last 22 years, and litmus test for the Congress.